UK P&I Club has warned that chaos and commercial disputes are set to ensue if terminals and shippers don't take steps to align with the SOLAS amendment, which takes effect on July 1, 2016.
The new rules will require that a container being loaded for export has a verified gross mass (VGM) as a condition for loading.
The responsibility for obtaining, communicating, and signing off the VGM of a packed container lies with the shipper.
No separate obligation is imposed on the carrier or the terminal operator to check the VGM declared. However, as a condition for loading, the carrier and the terminal must ensure that every container on the ship's stowage plan has a properly declared VGM.
The British insurance firm believes a large number of terminals and shippers are unprepared or unaware of the changes about to come into force, requiring containers being loaded for export to have a verified gross mass.
As from July 1, 2016, it would be a violation of SOLAS to load a packed container onto a ship if the ship operator and marine terminal operator do not have the VGM of the container. All 163 signatory states to SOLAS will need to implement this SOLAS amendment through their national legislation.
A failure to comply will likely result in fines and penalties UK P&I speculates, but it may also result in delays, disruptions to loading procedures and potential loss of business for carriers.
